Archive | Interviews

Mia Breitkopf is an embedded librarian and one of the panelists for our “How To Get An Embedded Librarian Job” webinar on Tuesday, December 15, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. US Eastern time. If you haven’t registered yet, go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/616204068926469633, then read our interview below with Mia. This is the third interview in our “Getting to know you” interview series with our webinar panelists.

Mia: I just joined the community at The College at Brockport, State University of New York at the end of October 2015. Before that, I worked for two years at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in what I consider to be an embedded librarian position.

Q.3. What are your main job duties and how are you embedded?

Mia: As the first Online and Hybrid Learning Librarian at Brockport, I am part of the reference and instruction team. My librarian colleagues and I are working together to establish a presence in online courses, creating a strategy and a set of best practices as the College expands its online learning offerings. Embedding librarians into online learning communities—in a meaningful way—will be a vital library service.

At Wharton I was embedded in the Executive Education division, partnering with faculty and staff to design and deliver learning experiences for executives in online learning environments. Community management, research, understanding users’ information needs, and knowledge management were a handful of my librarian-like responsibilities.

Q.4. How did you get your job?

Mia: The job description fit me well: though librarian was nowhere in there, when I read it I was imagining how I’d be a good candidate because of my education background and the MLIS program I had just finished at Syracuse University. I made my case!

End of interview

Thanks Mia! Our next “Getting to know you” webinar panelist interview will be with Nadine Anderson on Friday. Stay tuned!

Rachael Altman is an embedded librarian and one of the panelists for our “How To Get An Embedded Librarian Job” webinar on Tuesday, December 15, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. US Eastern time. If you haven’t registered yet, go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/616204068926469633, then read our interview below with Rachael. This is the second interview in our “Getting to know you” interview series with our webinar panelists.

Getting to Know…Rachael Altman

Q.1. What is your job title?

Rachael: Corporate Research Analyst

Q. 2. Where do you work and how long have you worked there?

Rachael: Grant Thornton International Ltd., for 1.5 years

Q.3. What are your main job duties and how are you embedded?

Rachael: I work in the risk management and independence department. The main function of my job is to research the firm’s incoming clients to mitigate risk and avoid conflicts of interest. I consider the role to be an embedded librarian for two reasons: 1. I work at an accounting firm so people are always shocked when they find out my background is in English and Library and Information Science. 2. I started my career in academia–even though the work environment is different, many of the skills and experiences are relevant and transferable. In my previous roles I was teaching information literacy classes and assisting students with research for papers. Now I spend my days processing dozens of research requests on potential clients and leading training sessions to teach our member firms how to use databases and the Internet for research.

Q.4. How did you get your job?

Rachael: I learned about my job while preparing for an interview for another job! I was interviewing for a job with Morningstar. In order to prepare, I reached out to Bridget Ginty (SLA Illinois member) who is the librarian at Morningstar. She said, I hope this job works out for you, but in case it doesn’t…check out this job at Grant Thornton. This job didn’t just fall into my lap, though. When I decided I wanted to transition to the corporate sector, I dedicated all of my time and effort to the job search. It definitely paid off!

End of interview

Thanks Rachael! Our next “Getting to know you” webinar panelist interview will be with Mia Breitkopf on Wednesday. Stay tuned!

Jamie Marie Keller-Aschenbach is an embedded librarian and one of the panelists for our “How To Get An Embedded Librarian Job” webinar on Tuesday, December 15, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. US Eastern time. If you haven’t registered yet, go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/616204068926469633, then read our interview below with Jamie. This is the first interview in our “Getting to know you” interview series with our webinar panelists.

Getting to Know…Jamie Marie Keller-Aschenbach

Q.1. What is your job title?

Jamie: My job title is Head of Research and Access Services

Q. 2. Where do you work and how long have you worked there?

Jamie: I’ve worked here at Florida Coastal School of Law for a little over 5 years. Prior to that, I’ve worked in law firms and engineering firms conducting knowledge management and competitive intelligence research.

Q.3. What are your main job duties and how are you embedded?

Jamie: I do a bit of everything library and IT related! I supervise student workers on the combined circulation, reference, and IT help desk. I’m ultimately responsible for all circulation and reference duties, though most of it I delegate to my student workers. I am also an academic advisor and teach a 3-credit Advanced Legal Research course at least once a year.

I work closely with the clinics, moot court team, and mock trial team conducting research training at the beginning of each semester.

I’m truly embedded in our law review. I hold office hours in the law review office mid-day Thursdays and in the evenings Mondays and Tuesdays where I assist with everything from Bluebook citations to ILLs to evaluating sources.

Q.4. How did you get your job?

Jamie: By being forcefully helpful! Really, that’s all it took.

End of interview

Thanks Jamie! Our next “Getting to know you” webinar panelist interview will be with Rachael Altman next Monday. Stay tuned!